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Caneel Bay: Update on Beach Access & Shuttle

Jenn Manes July 17, 2024 3 Comments

Hello everyone, and happy Wednesday! Here is a quick update on what’s happening over at Caneel Bay.

Back in May, I told you how the National Park planned to open Caneel Bay beach to the public. This was a big announcement, as we were all somewhat discouraged from using this beach while the resort was open. Caneel Bay beach is the beach that you see down to the right from the Caneel overlook. It’s located in front of numerous shuttered hotel rooms and ZoZo’s restaurant.

Well, unfortunately, this has yet to happen. At the time, the Park’s latest superintendent said she was waiting for restrooms to arrive. I am not certain if that has happened yet, but the beach remains closed from the land. It is accessible by water only, as are all of the beaches in the US Virgin Islands.

The shuttle to Honeymoon beach is still running. The shuttle only runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. currently. I am sure those hours will expand later in the year when season resumes. The shuttle is $6 per person, per way.

You still are unable to walk through the resort. You can walk the Lind Point trail to Salomon and Honeymoon beaches, but you are not allowed to walk beyond that. And on the reverse, you are not allowed to walk from the Caneel Bay entrance to Honeymoon like you were able to do in the past. Hopefully this changes soon, as well.

For those of you who are on island now or will be soon, you will notice that the remnants of the sugar plantation have been cleared over the past couple of months. Things are definitely happening over at Caneel. They’re just happening on island time. 🙂

Want to learn more about St. John? Looking to take an island tour?

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour See the island of St. John with a resident. See the nooks and crannies that many visitors miss. Explore the beaches, historical sites, perhaps a tiki bar or two, and much more. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Follow Explore STJ on Social Media

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Cruz Bay Bar Finally Reopens & Brings Back the $4 You Call It!

Jenn Manes July 15, 2024 1 Comment

Well folks, welcome to slow season. The island is quiet. Restaurant closings are on the horizon. Quite frankly, there’s not too much happening here at the moment. So with that being said, I am excited to share a little nugget of information for those of you who do plan to travel this summer – the $4 “You Call It” happy hour has returned! And you can be one of the first ones to try it out!

Our friends over at 420 to Center, an eclectic little bar tucked away beside Slim’s parking lot in Cruz Bay, finally reopened a few weeks ago after being closed for more than four months. And when they did, they bought back the famous “You Call It” happy hour – a sip and save event of sorts. 🙂

The $4 You Call It happy hour occurs daily from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. It’s not a Painkiller or frozen drink kind of place, but rather one where you can get a cold beer and good conversation.

For those of you who’ve visited us for years, you may remember the $3 You Call It happy hour that used to happen at Joe’s Rum Hut before the storms. Lots of memories were made there for many of us! So thank you Sharkey and everyone at 420 for bringing a little nostalgia back to the island. 🙂

Want to see exactly where 420 to Center is located? Check out Explore STJ’s searchable restaurant map at www.explorestj.com/restaurantmap.

That’s it for today, folks! I have a busy day of condo showings and island tours! Chat later this week!

Want to learn more about St. John? Looking to take an island tour?

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour See the island of St. John with a resident. See the nooks and crannies that many visitors miss. Explore the beaches, historical sites, perhaps a tiki bar or two, and much more. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Follow Explore STJ on Social Media

–> www.facebook.com/explorestj

–> www.instagram.com/explorestj

Red Hook/Cruz Bay Ferries Reduce Schedule for Off-Season

Jenn Manes July 12, 2024 0 Comments

Quick update everyone!

The ferry that transports passengers between Red Hook and Cruz Bay just announced that they will be reducing their schedule for off-season.

The ferries will continue to operate the normal schedule daily until 7 p.m. Effectively immediately, hourly service will cease starting at 7 p.m. The new schedule after 7 p.m. is as follows:

The ferry will run from Red Hook to Cruz Bay at 8 p.m., 10 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. The ferry will run from Cruz Bay to Red Hook at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.

There will no longer be a ferry from Red Hook to Cruz Bay at 9 p.m. or at 11 p.m. There will no longer be a ferry from Cruz Bay to Red Hoo at 8 p.m. or at 10 p.m.

This is a temporary change due to off-season travel. I will let you know when the normal schedule resumes.

And just as a reminder, the Charlotte Amalie ferry is not currently running due to off-season travel. That is expected to resume November 1st.

That’s it for today! Have a. great weekend!

Want to learn more about St. John? Looking to take an island tour?

It’s never too early to book your island tour!

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour See the island of St. John with a resident. See the nooks and crannies that many visitors miss. Explore the beaches, historical sites, perhaps a tiki bar or two, and much more. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Follow Explore STJ on Social Media

–> www.facebook.com/explorestj

–> www.instagram.com/explorestj

New Restaurant Receiving Rave Reviews!

Jenn Manes July 10, 2024 1 Comment

I absolutely love the view up here! (Image credit: Tropical Bandit Photography)

Hello everyone, and happy Wednesday! I am excited to tell you about a new restaurant that recently opened in Cruz Bay. It’s called The Hideaway STJ, and it’s been receiving rave reviews!

The Hideaway STJ is the latest concept created by my friend Vince “Vinny” Alterio. Vinny is an incredibly talented chef, who worked at La Tapa and Asolare before launching his own private chef and catering company. I’ve had the privilege of using Vinny’s private chef services multiple times over the years, so I can tell you firsthand that it’s top-notch.

Chef Vinny Alterio (Image credit: Tropical Bandit Photography)

Naturally, I was super excited earlier this year when Vinny told me about his latest project – The Hideaway STJ. Vinny wanted to create a spot with the taste of a Michelin Star, but one that felt like home, he told me. And I am excited to say that he has created just that.

The Hideaway STJ is located in the back of the former Lumberyard complex, tucked between the Roti King and St. John Ice. The Lumberyard is located up the hill from the bulkhead dock (which is between customs and the Visitor’s Center), and about halfway to Dolphin Market at the roundabout. For those of you who visited us post-hurricane, it’s the area where Barefoot Cowboy used to be, among other businesses.

(Click here to check out Explore STJ’s searchable restaurant map to see exactly where The Hideaway STJ is located.)

The Hideaway STJ is a cozy restaurant with amazing views of the Creek. Like many of you, I loved sitting at Barefoot Cowboy and watching the boat show every afternoon and then the sunset at night. I’m excited that we have a spot to do that, once again.

So cozy! (Image credit: Tropical Bandit Photography)

Such a great little bar! The bar top is from the old Quiet Mon Pub. (Image credit: Tropical Bandit Photography)

Daytime views! (Image credit: The Hideaway STJ)

Incredible sunset views! (Image credit: The Hideaway STJ)

Vinny built a custom food trailer, which serves as the kitchen for The Hideaway STJ. It is an open kitchen, so guests can watch the chefs at work, which is always fun. Joining Vinny on his team are chefs Juan Orlandi and Trace Miller.

The Hideaway’s menu features a variety of fresh, local ingredients and will vary based on time of year. Here are the current selections:

The Hideaway STJ is open Friday through Monday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. They plan to close for off-season at the end of August. Its reopening date has yet to be announced.

Check out The Hideaway’s website at STJHideaway.com for more information. Cheers all & congrats Vinny!

Want to learn more about St. John? Looking to take an island tour?

It’s never too early to book your island tour!

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour See the island of St. John with a resident. See the nooks and crannies that many visitors miss. Explore the beaches, historical sites, perhaps a tiki bar or two, and much more. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Follow Explore STJ on Social Media

–> www.facebook.com/explorestj

–> www.instagram.com/explorestj

Island Update: St. John Restaurant Closings & More

Jenn Manes July 8, 2024 0 Comments

Hello everyone, and happy Monday! I hope everyone had a great holiday last week! I know I did! I figured it’s been a bit since I posted an island update, so here we go!

Let’s start with St. John restaurant closings. I’ve been getting a lot of emails about this one. The dates are slowly starting to trickle in, but I do not have the full list as of yet. Here are some that I have so far:

ZoZo’s is closed for the season. They will reopen in December.
Lovango Resort + Beach Club will close July 20th. They will reopen in December.
The Terrace is closing for the season on July 25th. Reopening date TBD.
Lime Inn’s last day will be August 2nd. They will reopen October 14th.
Johnny Lime’s last day will be August 2nd. They will reopen October 14th.
Drink is most likely closing on August 8th. They will reopen on Halloween.
Miss Lucy’s last day will be August 9th. Reopening date TBD.
Skinny Legs is closing on August 10th. They are reopening on Halloween.
Rum Hut is tentatively closing on August 10th and tentatively reopening on October 16th.
Extra Virgin Bistro is closing on August 11. Reopening date TBD.
Cafe Roma will be closed August 18th through August 31st.
Lime Out’s last day will be August 23rd. They will reopen October 20th.
1864 is closing on August 29th. Reopening date TBD.
Dave & Jerry’s is closing on August 30th. They are reopening on October 7th.
The Windmill Bar, The Upstairs, The Beach Bar, The Longboard, Cruz Bay Landing, The Tap Room, and Sharky’s By the Water are a few spots that will remain open during off-season.

That being said, off-season is basically here. The island had a great crowd the past few weeks to celebrate Festival, but now we are expecting it to wind down for the season. It is still a great time to visit for those of you who are looking for a last-minute vacation. Most of the vacation rentals have reduced prices during the summer months, so there are great deals to be had. I know many of you are concerned about possible tropical weather, so I do suggest getting travel insurance for summer trips.

Speaking of weather, Hurricane Beryl did not affect the island last week. The system passed well to our south, thankfully.

Not on island, but want to see what’s currently happening? You can check out our webcams at www.explorestj.com/webcams.

I am hoping to have the full list of closings by the end of the week. I will post them at www.explorestj.com/closings. I will also upload a printable list when it’s complete.

That’s it for today, folks! New restaurant news coming later this week – stay tuned! Have a great one!

Want to learn more about St. John? Looking to take an island tour?

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour See the island of St. John with a resident. See the nooks and crannies that many visitors miss. Explore the beaches, historical sites, perhaps a tiki bar or two, and much more. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Follow Explore STJ on Social Media

–> www.facebook.com/explorestj

–> www.instagram.com/explorestj

Why St. John’s July 4th Celebration is So Important

Jenn Manes July 2, 2024 0 Comments

The Freedom statue is located in the park in Cruz Bay across from the ferry dock.

We are in the midst of St. John’s annual Festival celebration. The timing coincides with the Fourth of July, but our festival isn’t celebrating the Declaration of Independence. It is honoring one of the most important days in St. John’s history – emancipation.

The Danes took control of St. John in 1718. At that time, they brought enslaved people to the island to work the sugar plantations. The enslaved people were finally freed on July 3, 1848. July 4th is celebrated so widely on St. John, because it was the first morning of freedom for the formerly-enslaved people. July 3rd is Emancipation Day and will be honored with a ceremony in the park tomorrow at 10 a.m.

How Word of Emancipation was Spread

Captain Ingjald Mourier was the owner of the Lameshur plantation in 1848. He arrived in Cruz Bay from St. Thomas to alert everyone about the pronouncement of Emancipation. He quickly informed Police Master Carl Hanshell of the news, and the pair set off on horseback to inform people across the island. The enslaved population on Estate Adrian – which is about three miles up Centerline Road – were the first to learn of their newfound freedom. From there, word of emancipation was spread plantation to plantation.

J’ouvert

J’ouvert is a street party that celebrates the first sunrise of freedom. This celebration is typically held at daybreak on July 4th, but has been held a few days early the last couple of years. During j’ouvert, people dance through the streets while celebrating freedom. It’s a pretty incredible event.

July 4th Parade Details

The parade is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. Think island time, my friends. Wear comfy shoes and loose fitting clothes, because this is a hot and long one. Rain is forecasted too, so keep an umbrella handy.

The parade starts behind the ball field in Cruz Bay. It continues in front of Mongoose Junction and toward Cap’s Place and the Post Office. It takes a right at the Post Office and goes toward the ferry dock. It then takes a left up the one-way past Connections. It will then continue up the hill past Woody’s and Extra Virgin until it reaches the roundabout.

July 4th Fireworks Information

The fireworks are usually set up from one of the barges in front of Cruz Bay harbor. Cruz Bay beach is a great spot to watch them. The Cruz Bay overlook is too. The fireworks are scheduled to start at 9 p.m.

Music

It’s a great time to be in St. John!

If you are unable to be on island, you can check out some of the island’s webcams to see the celebration. View them at www.ExploreSTJ.com/webcams. You may be able to catch some of the fireworks on St. John Spice’s Spice Cam.

Enjoy everyone! Happy Festival! And Happy Fourth of July! Stay safe!